My Projects
Sweet Land of Liberty
Once I saw this pattern called Our Flag Stands for Freedom designed by Lisa Bongean on Primitive Gatherings, of course I wanted to hang it up in the hallway so my Dad could see it every time he passed. My Dad, Bob, is a 91 year old Korean War veteran and took so many photos of his time in service, we felt like we could see the few stories he did tell. The pantograph I chose for this wall hanging is Ebb and Flow found on Urban Elementz. However, this quilt is all about what those colors represent. Forever indebted to my Dad and the many veterans like him.
A Covid Stash Buster
Once I saw this pattern called Our Flag Stands for Freedom designed by Lisa Bongean on Primitive Gatherings, of course I wanted to hang it up in the hallway so my Dad could see it every time he passed. My Dad, Bob, is a 91 year old Korean War veteran and took so many photos of his time in service, we felt like we could see the few stories he did tell. The pantograph I chose for this wall hanging is Ebb and Flow found on Urban Elementz. However, this quilt is all about what those colors represent. Forever indebted to my Dad and the many veterans like him.
The Cancer Quilt
You're quite right, there are no pink bows or any other thing reminiscent of the big C, except that I began the project over 15 years ago at the beginning moments of my diagnosis. My mom sent me this "kit" to work on, likely as a mental diversion. But it was a bugger of a pattern for me. I had no idea that the seams were supposed to be a "shy" quarter inch. If you look closely, you can see a few seams that just didn't hit their mark. Finally I pulled the project out and just finished it. Full disclosure, my end result looks quite different (and at least a row smaller) than the original version shown in Fons and Porter's magazine. The pantograph, Clamshell Feather from My Creative Stitches, helped to soften the harshness of those meticulous (smirk) lines. It's filled with a delicious Bamboo batting that further softens this quilt top. Sometimes perfect is good. This time finished was better.
Best Lessons from a Quilty Box
So I might have fallen prey to an advertisement to order this wonderful box that would arrive periodically at my house with new fabric inside. That was an easy sell. The box containing Robert Kaufman's Silverstone fabrics was a surprise. Along with the pattern called Shattered, it soon became my (and my daughter's) favorite quilt top. I would not have chosen these fabrics just wandering through the fabric store, but in this design they became something I loved. Lesson: Keep trying new fabrics, designs and colors. No one wants to open my cabinet of quilts someday to distribute to the grandkids and find two patterns in the same shades of purple. I used a panto from Urban Elementz called Leaflet. What do you think?
In Search of Faith
Ever walk through a quilt shop and see a large fat quarter bundle that just about jumps into your arms? That was almost what happened to me waltzing through The Quilted Windmill in Pella on sale day. The fabric, Songbook by Fancy That Design House, was soon sewn into the quilt pattern by @mywanderingpath and quilted using the pantograph Playful Roses. My only regret is that it is living in our guest room instead of my room. It is a reminder to me that we aren't done with yet another project. My husband and I have been assembling a history of the churches our ancestors have belonged to (or in some instances all we know is who officiated something, but you get the idea). Maybe I'll have a moment between quilts. Maybe.
Longarm Melody
There's something about the melodic hum of the longarm. Better yet, watching the pending results. This free pattern, basically a buffalo plaid theme done strip style, used some great fabric from Primitive Gatherings Yuletide Gatherings line. It didn't take too long for this to be claimed on someone's bed during the Christmas gathering at my house. Typically I might choose something with floral or rounded edges with all of these harsh lines but I saw someone use Diagonal Plaid as a pantograph on a buffalo plaid quilt and it worked for me. Trying new things is so much fun, as is letting a better melody outshine all of the negative.
Good news. Although this quilt is heavier than I thought it would be (think weighted blanket) my LA frame can easily handle a king sized quilt. Maybe something puffier next.
Gallery
A few more quilts
